How do you get residents in a vast metropolitan area like Salt Lake City to understand the threat of invading and noxious weeds? The Bonneville Cooperative Weed Management Area (CWMA) focused their attention on an escaping ornamental

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purge your spurge How do you get residents in a vast metropolitan area like Salt Lake City to understand the threat of invading and noxious weeds?  The Bonneville Cooperative Weed Management Area (CWMA) focused their attention on an escaping ornamental.  Myrtle spurge was turning the hills on the east side of the valley a spectacular chartreuse each spring.  Some investigation by the Salt Lake County Weed Program indicated that a popular landscaping plant had escaped and was now an exploding infestation.  After discovering the plant had been listed as a noxious weed in Colorado, they targeted myrtle spurge as a new invader.  The CWMA began mapping the infestations, determining the best methods of control, then treating it, and handing out brochures to explain what the plant was doing to the natural landscape.  The Salt Lake County Weed Board officially listed myrtle spurge a noxious weed. In April 2007, the CWMA offered homeowners in Salt Lake County native plants in exchange for uprooted myrtle spurge from their yards and gardens.  Their “Purge Your Spurge” event was held on two Saturdays at the Salt Lake REI store and resulted in 277 landowners bringing in more than 6500 pounds of myrtle spurge, for which they received 1,400 native plants! The educational value of the project was twofold:  Many people who didn’t know myrtle spurge wasn’t part of the native landscape learned how a beautiful garden plant had become an alien invader displacing beneficial vegetation.  This was easier for urban dwellers to understand than the threat of noxious weeds on range or croplands.  Plant nurseries that were partners in the project became more aware of the danger of selling noxious and invading weeds as landscaping plants. The CWMA plans to continue its “Purge the Spurge” campaign during 2008, as funding becomes available. Myrtle SpurgePhoto courtesy of USDA NRCSMyrtle spurge, also known as donkey tail or creeping spurge, is a native to Eurasia. It was introduced to North America as an ornamental and is often used in rock gardens. This plant has escaped cultivation in some areas, invading well-drained areas. Myrtle spurge is poisonous if digested, causing nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Additionally, the milky sap can cause swelling, redness and blistering of the skin, and, irritation to the eyes. Myrtle spurge is usually spread by seed, although root fragments can also produce new plants. Myrtle spurge can be controlled through chemical and mechanical means. Small infestations can be hand pulled or dug. As much root as possible should be removed and the area should be monitored in future years to prevent reinfestation. Care should be taken to prevent the sap from contacting skin or eyes. Bonneville Cooperative WeedManagement Area (above) targeted Myrtle spurge at the urban interface on Salt Lake County's east side (left.)Euphorbia myrsinitesSaving Utah'S LandScapeUtahPCD is a partnership committed to providing conservation solutionspurge your spurge Steps to Success:• • The Bonneville CWMA focuses on open space, natural      landscapes, and Salt Lake County watershed lands.• • A staff person was selected to do administrative work and     coordinate partnerships and projects.• • Efforts are directed to grant-funded projects and having extra  funding in place for site specific projects.• • Partners are dedicated and committed to providing      resources and work as needed for various projects.• • Education of the public is emphasized as the most cost-efficient method of control for most of the partners, who don’t have funding  and technical expertise for large control projects.• • Local Extension agent Maggie Wolf writes articles for publication in  the Salt Lake Tribune to make people aware of noxious weed problems. Looking to the Future:• • Continue to work with partners to control weeds at specific sites.• • Emphasize early detection and rapid response of new invaders, i.e.,  garlic mustard, sulfur cinquefoil and myrtle spurge.• • Develop and maintain an inventory.• • Develop specific weed management objectives.• • Establish control priorities for weed species and or weed      infestations.• • Coordinate the use of resources and personnel.• • Develop area wide informational, educational, and      public awareness material.• • Encourage the Salt Lake County Weed Board to add weeds to the    noxious weed lists as needed.  Most recently, Dalmatian toadflax, myrtle    spurge and garlic mustard were designated. What you can do:• • Call the Salt Lake County weed hotline: (801) 468-2861.PartnersSalt Lake CountyTooele CountyUtah CountyUtah Department of Natural ResourcesUtah Department of TransportationUSDA Forest ServiceBureau of Land ManagementNatural Resources Conservation ServiceAnimal and Plant Health Inspection ServiceMurray CitySalt Lake CityUtah Association of Conservation DistrictsSalt Lake Conservation DistrictCottonwood Canyons FoundationKennecott CopperGreat Salt Lake Resource Conservation & Development CouncilUtah State University ExtensionIntermountain Native Plant Growers AssociationUtah Native Plant SocietySouth Shore CWMASummit County CWMAREIUtah State University is an equal opportunity/affirmative action institution.Pr o d u c e d  b y  t h e  B u r e a u  o f  L a n d  M a n a g e m e n t ,  Ut a h  A s s o c i a t i o n  o f  C o n s e r v a t i o n  D i s t r i c t s ,Ut a h  We e d  Su p e r v i s o r s  A s s o c i a t i o n  a n d  U S U  E x t e n s i o nNearly 300 landowners partcipated in the "Purge Your Spurge" event. Native plants were given in exchange to those who brought in Myrtle spurge.

Saving Utah\u27s Landscape, Purge Your Spruge

https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2381&amp;context=extension_curall

Saving Utah\u27s Landscape, Purge Your Spruge

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